Poole Harbour sightings blog

A record of all interesting and notable sightings from around the harbour throughout the year.

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Archive for September, 2019

Harbour Update – posted 04/09/19

Posted on: September 4th, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

Today’s blustery weather has seen 17mph winds from the west, with birds getting blown about by the occasional strong gust here and there. Brownsea Lagoon has recorded 1 Shovler, 8 Curlew, 3 Little Egret, 4 Blacktailed Godwit and large numbers of Oystercatcher, c400, again.

It’s been quiet over at Lytchett Fields on the low tides, only recording 1 Ruff early this morning but on the high tide 4 Curlew Sandpiper, 4 Green Sandpiper, 1 Ruff, 5 Dunlin, 126 Redshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, 14 Greenshank, 1 Knot, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, c40 Black-tailed Godwit, 26 Lapwing and c150 Teal were present

At the Coombe Heath hide a fair few Birds of Prey reporting 1 Osprey, 2 Marsh Harrier, 3 Buzzard, a Peregrine and also 40 Dunlin. Middlebere recorded a Juvenile Marsh Harrier and 35 Knot and over at Sunnyside Scrape a Green Sandpiper was spotted.  Holes Bay also logged 2 Knot and 1 Bartailed Godwit.

Over at Studland a Pied Flycatcher, 22 Mistle Thrush, 17 Stonechat, 1 Redstart and 4 Chiffchaff were logged.

Mistle Thrush – Studland 

Pied Flycatcher – Studland  


Harbour Update – posted 04/09/19

Posted on: September 4th, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

Today’s blustery weather has seen 17mph winds from the west, with birds getting blown about by the occasional strong gust here and there. Brownsea Lagoon has recorded 1 Shovler, 8 Curlew, 3 Little Egret, 4 Blacktailed Godwit and large numbers of Oystercatcher, c400, again.

It’s been quiet over at Lytchett Fields on the low tides, only recording 1 Ruff early this morning but on the high tide 4 Curlew Sandpiper, 4 Green Sandpiper, 1 Ruff, 5 Dunlin, 126 Redshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, 14 Greenshank, 1 Knot, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, c40 Black-tailed Godwit, 26 Lapwing and c150 Teal were present

At the Coombe Heath hide a fair few Birds of Prey reporting 1 Osprey, 2 Marsh Harrier, 3 Buzzard, a Peregrine and also 40 Dunlin. Middlebere recorded a Juvenile Marsh Harrier and 35 Knot and over at Sunnyside Scrape a Green Sandpiper was spotted.  Holes Bay also logged 2 Knot and 1 Bartailed Godwit.

Over at Studland a Pied Flycatcher, 22 Mistle Thrush, 17 Stonechat, 1 Redstart and 4 Chiffchaff were logged.

Mistle Thrush – Studland 

Pied Flycatcher – Studland  


Harbour Update – posted 03/09/19

Posted on: September 3rd, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

A mostly cloudy day today with a high of 20°C. Brownsea Lagoon has seen a variety of species  including; 22 Spoonbill, 4 Blacktailed Godwit, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 6 Avocet, 7 Greenshank, 12 Dunlin, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Peregrine, Redshank, c3 Curlew and 1 Kingfisher.

A Great White Egret was seen at Brands Bay and 37 Yellow Wagtail with the cattle by the road to Stoborough

An Osprey fishing, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Hobby, Green Sandpiper, 1 Whimbrel, a Yellow Wagtail were logged  in the Wareham Channel and Lytchett Bay recorded 3 newly arrived Cattle Egret, fresh in from somewhere, 8 Spoonbill, 4 Curlew Sandpiper and a Knot whilst over at Lytchett Fields a Ruff was seen.

At Middlebere there were 2 unringed Osprey and 2 different Marsh Harrier.

2 House Martin, 1 Swift, many Sand Martin and a few Swallow were all seen at Swineham Gravel Pit whilst 1 Whinchat and 8 Stonechat were seen in Fields near Swineham Farm.

Unusually A flock of 17 Grey Heron were moving down the Piddle from Carey in the direction of Swineham and the Harbour.


Harbour Update – posted 03/09/19

Posted on: September 3rd, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

A mostly cloudy day today with a high of 20°C. Brownsea Lagoon has seen a variety of species  including; 22 Spoonbill, 4 Blacktailed Godwit, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 6 Avocet, 7 Greenshank, 12 Dunlin, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 PeregrineRedshank, c3 Curlew and 1 Kingfisher.

Great White Egret was seen at Brands Bay and 37 Yellow Wagtail with the cattle by the road to Stoborough

An Osprey fishing, a Marsh Harrier, 2 HobbyGreen Sandpiper, 1 Whimbrel, a Yellow Wagtail were logged  in the Wareham Channel and Lytchett Bay recorded 3 newly arrived Cattle Egret, fresh in from somewhere, 8 Spoonbill, 4 Curlew Sandpiper and a Knot whilst over at Lytchett Fields a Ruff was seen.

At Middlebere there were 2 unringed Osprey and 2 different Marsh Harrier.

House Martin, 1 Swift, many Sand Martin and a few Swallow were all seen at Swineham Gravel Pit whilst 1 Whinchat and 8 Stonechat were seen in Fields near Swineham Farm.

Unusually A flock of 17 Grey Heron were moving down the Piddle from Carey in the direction of Swineham and the Harbour.


Harbour Update – posted 02/09/19

Posted on: September 2nd, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

There was a definite cold, crispness to the air this morning, with more than just a hint of autumn creeping in. More arrivals included 30+ Wigeon in Holes Bay, 21 Turnstone on Baiter and c75 Avocet on the Brownsea Lagoon heralding the start of colder days yet to come.

Yesterday’s sunny sky and gentle breeze was also all it took for some of our juvenile Osprey from this year’s project to up and leave with the sighting of 022 from our Osprey cruise being the last sighting of him before he headed south for the very first time. Other departures have included chicks 015, 016 and 018 meaning it won’t be long now before all of this years birds move on. A very sad but also very rewarding time. We’ve also seen our happy couple CJ7 and LS7 leave, with no sightings since late on Aug 28th meaning they probably left early on the morning of Aug 29th . We really do wish them both well and look forward to their safe return next spring!

There was plenty more on offer today including a rich looking Lytchett Fields which saw 4 Curlew Sandpiper, 12 Knot, 2 Spotted Redshank, 1 Ruff, 12 Greenshank, 264 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Green Sandpiper, 4 Ringed Plover, 100+ Redshank, 40+ Lapwing and 3 Spoonbill, along with 2 Marsh Harrier and 1 Kingfisher. At the PC World Drain there were c15 each of Blackcap and Chiffchaff with 1 Common Whitethroat. On the Brownsea Lagoon the Spoonbill count had reached 25 and there was an adult Peregrine there. Marsh Harrier numbers keep increasing/decreasing regularly with a new bird in today that joined the (current) resident male and female, but some recent newbies have moved on already. In Middlebere an Osprey was very active hunting, catching a fish close to the Middlebere hide before taking it to the nest platform and a flock of c300 Black-tailed Godwit were spooked by a Peregrine.

Wheatear – Coombe Heath – Rene Goad


Harbour Update – posted 02/09/19

Posted on: September 2nd, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

There was a definite cold, crispness to the air this morning, with more than just a hint of autumn creeping in. More arrivals included 30+ Wigeon in Holes Bay, 21 Turnstone on Baiter and c75 Avocet on the Brownsea Lagoon heralding the start of colder days yet to come.

Yesterday’s sunny sky and gentle breeze was also all it took for some of our juvenile Osprey from this year’s project to up and leave with the sighting of 022 from our Osprey cruise being the last sighting of him before he headed south for the very first time. Other departures have included chicks 015, 016 and 018 meaning it won’t be long now before all of this years birds move on. A very sad but also very rewarding time. We’ve also seen our happy couple CJ7 and LS7 leave, with no sightings since late on Aug 28th meaning they probably left early on the morning of Aug 29th . We really do wish them both well and look forward to their safe return next spring!

There was plenty more on offer today including a rich looking Lytchett Fields which saw 4 Curlew Sandpiper, 12 Knot, 2 Spotted Redshank, 1 Ruff, 12 Greenshank, 264 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Green Sandpiper, 4 Ringed Plover, 100+ Redshank, 40+ Lapwing and 3 Spoonbill, along with 2 Marsh Harrier and 1 Kingfisher. At the PC World Drain there were c15 each of Blackcap and Chiffchaff with 1 Common Whitethroat. On the Brownsea Lagoon the Spoonbill count had reached 25 and there was an adult Peregrine there. Marsh Harrier numbers keep increasing/decreasing regularly with a new bird in today that joined the (current) resident male and female, but some recent newbies have moved on already. In Middlebere an Osprey was very active hunting, catching a fish close to the Middlebere hide before taking it to the nest platform and a flock of c300 Black-tailed Godwit were spooked by a Peregrine.


Harbour Update – posted 01/09/19

Posted on: September 1st, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

Today marked the last of our Osprey cruises for 2019 – and it didn’t disappoint! A total of 4 Osprey were frequently observed across the Wareham Channel, including 3 of our 2019 translocated juveniles. The trip concluded with a scan around Brownsea Lagoon producing 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 24 Knot, 1 Turnstone and 47 Avocet.

Sunnyside scrape is beginning to establish itself as a fruitful wader spot with today’s sighting of a Wood Sandpiper and 5 Yellow Wagtail. Middlebere was again a focal point of the day’s Osprey action, logging numerous sightings by midday. A Peregrine was also observed over Middlebere, flushing the c100 Black-tailed Godwit frequenting the channel.

Autumn continues to progress with 21 newly arrived Wigeon in Holes Bay along with 2 Greenshank. A visit to PC World Drain produced 2 Spotted Flycatcher and 3 Chiffchaff. In the early hours of this morning, nocturnal recordings at Corfe Gap logged a small Ringed Plover flock heading towards Harbour while at Lytchett Fields a single Wheatear, 2 Tree Pipit, 7 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Curlew Sand, 2 Turnstone, 12 Ringed Plover, 2 Spotted Redshank, 12 Dunlin, 10 Greenshank, also Wheatear and Whinchat were observed at Lytchett Fields.

Ringed Plover – Calls of night migrants over Corfe Castle – 01/09/19 @ 4:32am 


Harbour Update – posted 01/09/19

Posted on: September 1st, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

Today marked the last of our Osprey cruises for 2019 – and it didn’t disappoint! A total of 4 Osprey were frequently observed across the Wareham Channel, including 3 of our 2019 translocated juveniles. The trip concluded with a scan around Brownsea Lagoon producing 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 24 Knot, 1 Turnstone and 47 Avocet.

Sunnyside scrape is beginning to establish itself as a fruitful wader spot with today’s sighting of a Wood Sandpiper and 5 Yellow Wagtail. Middlebere was again a focal point of the day’s Osprey action, logging numerous sightings by midday. A Peregrine was also observed over Middlebere, flushing the c100 Black-tailed Godwit frequenting the channel.

Autumn continues to progress with 21 newly arrived Wigeon in Holes Bay along with 2 Greenshank. A visit to PC World Drain produced 2 Spotted Flycatcher and 3 Chiffchaff. In the early hours of this morning, nocturnal recordings at Corfe Gap logged a small Ringed Plover flock heading towards Harbour while at Lytchett Fields a single Wheatear, 2 Tree Pipit, 7 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Curlew Sand, 2 Turnstone, 12 Ringed Plover, 2 Spotted Redshank, 12 Dunlin, 10 Greenshank, also Wheatear and Whinchat were observed at Lytchett Fields.

Ringed Plover – Calls of night migrants over Corfe Castle – 01/09/19 @ 4:32am


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